Movie Jail: This week's defendant is...Cameron Diaz!

Welcome to Movie Jail, a facility like any other, only its inmates are
Hollywood
writers, directors, actors and producers. This column will serve as a
Movie Jail
trial. We will put one defendant on trial; lay out arguments for the
Prosecution and
Defense. And we leave it up to YOU, the reader, to decide whether the
defendant
is guilty of his or her crime. What crime? The crime of cinematic inconsistency or on the flipside, consistently being
a stinking
shithouse.

The
Defendant

Cameron Diaz

The
Case

The Prosecution: The Green Hornet, What to Expect When You're Expecting, The Box, Knight & Day, What Happens in Vegas, The Holiday, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Invisible Circus, Bad Teacher *

Ladies and gentleman of the jury, it's one of those cases where we ponder the career of an actor and wonder where the hell they've been. For Ms. Diaz, we were surprised that she was still working at all. Then we quickly realized that not only has she remained active over the years, but she's remained active in a slew of shit movies. You have to go all the way back to 2005's In Her Shoes to find a fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and for this we have to move for a guilty verdict. Going by one of the basic principles of Movie Jail, Ms. Diaz started off strong in the 90s mixing up independent projects with comedies and some rom coms, but since the early 00s (oughts?) she's tapered off into, in our eyes, a fledgling career. Plus, she has Joker mouth. And we find it difficult to connect to anyone with Joker mouth on any level. Lock her up for a few years, whip that ass into shape, and let's see how she recovers from incarceration.

The Defense: There's Something About Mary, She's the One, The Mask, Gangs of New York, My Sister's Keeper, In Her Shoes, Shrek, Being John Malkovich, Very Bad Things, A Life Less Ordinary, Vanilla Sky, My Best Friend's Wedding*

Ladies and Gentleman of the jury, we simply think that Ms. Diaz has done more good than ill. Looking at the negatives of her career, she hardly seems to be the worst aspect about the subpar movies she's acted in. The Box was flawed, but that had more to do with the movie itself. Same with Bad Teacher. Even though the film was a mashup of Bad Santa and School of Rock we enjoyed Ms. Diaz as the self-centered, alcoholic substitute teacher. Sure, she's dipped her toe into the rom com waters a bit too much for our taste, but at least she comes across as genuine and charismatic, unlike some of the other queens of that genre such as Katherine Heigl or Kate Hudson. Early on she mixed up quite a few different genres to show her range, so maybe she just hasn't found the right script to sink her teeth into yet. Ms. Diaz deserves leniency in this case, as she's given us a lot more good than she has bad.

IN
CLOSING...

So, what’s to be done with Cameron Diaz? Is it about time to send ol' Joker mouth to Movie Jail? Do you feel she's had a more positive output than negative? Could she benefit from a years in the slammer?
And the
most important question to be asked, once all evidence is taken into
consideration, we ask
you The Jury, is Cameron Diaz GUILTY or NOT GUILTY?

Let’s
hear YOUR
arguments, either side, by STRIKING BACK BELOW.

*The court recognizes that all movies are subjective, so
relax.

WHAT SAY YOU,
GUILTY OR
NOT?

LAST WEEK'S
VERDICT

It is the jury's decision that after reviewing
last week's evidence, the court finds Anna Faris
NOT GUILTY of all charges. The jury cited Ms. Faris' likability, on screen charisma and overall hotness as grounds for dismissal. It was also mentioned and agreed upon, that Ms. Faris is hardly bad in any of the "bad" movies she's been in, thus, absolving her from any blame for said "bad" movies.

Ms. Diaz is not guilty..but she defintely needs to go into Movie Career Counciling ...Lately Ms. Diaz has made some poor choices and she cant hide behind the Shrek series anymore...I could see her playing in a superhero movie or try her hand at more dramatic roles...but defintely stay away from the land of Straight to DVD-Land..

Ms. Diaz is not guilty..but she defintely needs to go into Movie Career Counciling ...Lately Ms. Diaz has made some poor choices and she cant hide behind the Shrek series anymore...I could see her playing in a superhero movie or try her hand at more dramatic roles...but defintely stay away from the land of Straight to DVD-Land..

Not Guilty

Not Guilty

The worst thing she's ever been in ("The Sweetest Thing", anybody?!) is not even on the prosecution list!
The Box, Knight & Day, The Holiday, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Bad Teacher are not really bad movies in my opinion. So I'd say: Not Guilty!

The worst thing she's ever been in ("The Sweetest Thing", anybody?!) is not even on the prosecution list!
The Box, Knight & Day, The Holiday, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Bad Teacher are not really bad movies in my opinion. So I'd say: Not Guilty!

GUILTY

Her hotness in the days of The Mask can only keeper out of jail for so long. Every time I see her on screen in a film, I'm constantly wishing it was someone else... she's a distraction if you ask me.
Although, she did deliver one of the single hottest lines ever in Vanilla Sky... "I swallowed your......"

Her hotness in the days of The Mask can only keeper out of jail for so long. Every time I see her on screen in a film, I'm constantly wishing it was someone else... she's a distraction if you ask me.
Although, she did deliver one of the single hottest lines ever in Vanilla Sky... "I swallowed your......"

Guilty!

I never really liked her. I have enjoyed movies that she has been in but me liking them had nothing to do with her. She always seemed like the weakest link. The only good thing she has going for her was her legs.

I never really liked her. I have enjoyed movies that she has been in but me liking them had nothing to do with her. She always seemed like the weakest link. The only good thing she has going for her was her legs.

guilty

Never really cared for as an actress really, especially in the lead role. Sometimes it just feels she is trying way too hard. I honestly feel her only good movie was that she starred in mind you is There's Something About Mary.

Never really cared for as an actress really, especially in the lead role. Sometimes it just feels she is trying way too hard. I honestly feel her only good movie was that she starred in mind you is There's Something About Mary.

GUILTY

Guilty!

Come on. 8 years since any film she was in received good reviews? And even that film was forgettable. She was never a great actress, but was a very capable comedienne. As others said before me, she was the worst (and almost embarrassingly so) part of Gangs of New York. Just terrible. Bad Teacher could have been a winner for her, but it didn't have the black heart necessary to pull off its premise. Otherwise, it has been a long run of crap. Also, and I know this is shallow, but her looks have

Come on. 8 years since any film she was in received good reviews? And even that film was forgettable. She was never a great actress, but was a very capable comedienne. As others said before me, she was the worst (and almost embarrassingly so) part of Gangs of New York. Just terrible. Bad Teacher could have been a winner for her, but it didn't have the black heart necessary to pull off its premise. Otherwise, it has been a long run of crap. Also, and I know this is shallow, but her looks have fallen off pretty hard in recent years. If her hotness was a factor in her popularity in the early going-- and it absolutely was-- it seems fair to discuss it in terms of her falling off as well.

But all indications are that she has a real chance to revive her career in the upcoming The Counselor (her part is said to be one of the better written female roles in quite a while) however for now she is definitely guilty.

Guilty

I have a feeling that there is a Shrek curse. Eddie Murphey is already in movie jail, and Diaz should be in there since neither of them have done anything really good since being in Shrek. Same for Mike Myers, who should be on trial next week (for post-Shrek films like Cat in the Hat and Love Guru), but I'm not sure he's relevant anymore (sad to say since Wayne and Austin Powers are awesome).

I have a feeling that there is a Shrek curse. Eddie Murphey is already in movie jail, and Diaz should be in there since neither of them have done anything really good since being in Shrek. Same for Mike Myers, who should be on trial next week (for post-Shrek films like Cat in the Hat and Love Guru), but I'm not sure he's relevant anymore (sad to say since Wayne and Austin Powers are awesome).

Guilty.

Thing is, I really do like her. She's funny and comes off as at least genuine in her movies, which is more than can be said of some actresses. She's too much of a star for me to buy her in character roles, and her star performances aren't really anything to write home about. I'd ask for leniency in the sentencing, but at least try to sent the message that she needs to re-evaluate her career and how she wants Hollywood to look at her, as she's no longer the hot young actress she was in the '90s.

Thing is, I really do like her. She's funny and comes off as at least genuine in her movies, which is more than can be said of some actresses. She's too much of a star for me to buy her in character roles, and her star performances aren't really anything to write home about. I'd ask for leniency in the sentencing, but at least try to sent the message that she needs to re-evaluate her career and how she wants Hollywood to look at her, as she's no longer the hot young actress she was in the '90s.

Not Guilty

Not Guilty

She has certainly made a lot of crap movies, but at least she seems to give it her all in each one. I can't really think of a movie that was crap because of her. They are just bad movies. Interesting that you mention Kate Hudson here. I was going to suggest her for the next defendant. Talk about a long list of garbage movies. Almost Famous was 13 years ago and there has been nothing but trash since.

She has certainly made a lot of crap movies, but at least she seems to give it her all in each one. I can't really think of a movie that was crap because of her. They are just bad movies. Interesting that you mention Kate Hudson here. I was going to suggest her for the next defendant. Talk about a long list of garbage movies. Almost Famous was 13 years ago and there has been nothing but trash since.

Guilty

She hasn't had a fresh movie in 8 years. This is the point of movie jail - going to jail for ruining (or potentially ruining) your career. She hasn't made a good movie since 2005, that would qualify as guilty to me.

She hasn't had a fresh movie in 8 years. This is the point of movie jail - going to jail for ruining (or potentially ruining) your career. She hasn't made a good movie since 2005, that would qualify as guilty to me.

Not Guilty

Good pick this week, as it is a tough decision. Diaz has done nothing but crap for a handful of years now, and although that should lead to a guilty verdict per the concept of this column, I simply cannot bring myself to vote against the girl who is so damn perfect in the likes of one of my favorite modern comedies, The Sweetest Thing, a movie only I seem to like, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, and my favorite movie ever, Vanilla Sky.

Good pick this week, as it is a tough decision. Diaz has done nothing but crap for a handful of years now, and although that should lead to a guilty verdict per the concept of this column, I simply cannot bring myself to vote against the girl who is so damn perfect in the likes of one of my favorite modern comedies, The Sweetest Thing, a movie only I seem to like, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, and my favorite movie ever, Vanilla Sky.

Not Guiltless, but Not Guilty...

She seems to irritate a good number of people for no particular reason.
I'm not a fan but I find it hard to seriously dislike her, though I've not seen several of the movies being used by the prosecution. The fact that she was in Being John Malkovich pretty much excuses whatever movie crimes she's accused of, and she was excellent in her role.I think if she'd gone on to appear in more projects like that she wouldn't be as oddly reviled as she is. I can accept she's a divisive figure (a lot of

She seems to irritate a good number of people for no particular reason.
I'm not a fan but I find it hard to seriously dislike her, though I've not seen several of the movies being used by the prosecution. The fact that she was in Being John Malkovich pretty much excuses whatever movie crimes she's accused of, and she was excellent in her role.I think if she'd gone on to appear in more projects like that she wouldn't be as oddly reviled as she is. I can accept she's a divisive figure (a lot of people I know can't stand her, women especially) but I've never really got what the problem was. Maybe if i watched more bland romantic comedies I'd fall on the side of guilty, but for the films I've seen her in she hasn't been that bad.

Not Guilty

Ms. Diaz certainly does not have a spotless record, and some of her performances seem forced/ phoned in. However, it does seem like she is constantly challenging herself, and trying different things- 'The Box' sucks, to be sure, but she and Marsden make it almost bareable. She went against type to be in 'Bad Teacher', and she was good. The movie's direction and timing were way off, but she was good.

How can we let the likes of Jennifer Anniston & Anna Farris off, when they are (more or less)

Ms. Diaz certainly does not have a spotless record, and some of her performances seem forced/ phoned in. However, it does seem like she is constantly challenging herself, and trying different things- 'The Box' sucks, to be sure, but she and Marsden make it almost bareable. She went against type to be in 'Bad Teacher', and she was good. The movie's direction and timing were way off, but she was good.

How can we let the likes of Jennifer Anniston & Anna Farris off, when they are (more or less) the exact same characters in each of their films, and then condemn someone who does try to work in a wide range of projects? That cannot stand and she must be found not guilty.

Guilty

I do not like her. There are some movies where she is good in (Gangs of New York, Any Given Sunday, Being John Malkovich) but the roles that she plays in those films I think anybody could have been good or even better. For the most part (especially when she's trying to be funny) I just find her annoying.

I do not like her. There are some movies where she is good in (Gangs of New York, Any Given Sunday, Being John Malkovich) but the roles that she plays in those films I think anybody could have been good or even better. For the most part (especially when she's trying to be funny) I just find her annoying.

No one better badmouth Princess Fiona

NOT guilty. You let Jennifer Aniston off the hook with a 'Not Guilty' but now we stand to convict someone who CAN carry a comedic performance all by herself? Go after someone who has actually wronged us all.

I hit puberty at 9 thanks to Cameron Diaz in 'The Mask.' She's the only reason 'Something About Mary' is remembered more fondly than 'The Heartbreak Kid.' Unlike Katherine Heigl or post-Out of Sight Jennifer Lopez, she strives for range in her roles and clearly gives it her all from

NOT guilty. You let Jennifer Aniston off the hook with a 'Not Guilty' but now we stand to convict someone who CAN carry a comedic performance all by herself? Go after someone who has actually wronged us all.

I hit puberty at 9 thanks to Cameron Diaz in 'The Mask.' She's the only reason 'Something About Mary' is remembered more fondly than 'The Heartbreak Kid.' Unlike Katherine Heigl or post-Out of Sight Jennifer Lopez, she strives for range in her roles and clearly gives it her all from 'Bad Teacher' to 'Gangs of New York' to 'Being John Malkovich.' No excuse to be made for all those awful PG-13 rom coms, but unlike so many actresses she strives to get beyond them.
And I liked The Green Hornet and her performance (however small) in it.

Guilty

Who goes to see a movie because of Cameron DIaz now a days? Maybe between 1998-2002 (something about mary-gangs of new york) you'll have an argument, but since gangs, she's made nothing good or enjoyable for her. She's a lovely woman, but guilty.

Who goes to see a movie because of Cameron DIaz now a days? Maybe between 1998-2002 (something about mary-gangs of new york) you'll have an argument, but since gangs, she's made nothing good or enjoyable for her. She's a lovely woman, but guilty.